Clemson Football 2009 Final Notes

Jan. 5, 2010

Team Notes • Won ACC’s Atlantic Division championship, the first Division Championship for Clemson program. Won Division with 6-2 conference record, tied for best ACC record by Clemson program since 1991. • Won Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl with 21-13 win over Kentucky. It was 16th bowl win in school history, the 18th best total in college football history. • Tied for 22nd in nation and third in ACC in wins with nine. • Clemson closed first decade of the 21st century with winning season every year of the decade, one of 14 schools to accomplish the feat. • First Clemson team to defeat Miami (FL) and Florida State in same year, Tigers scored at least 40 points against each team. • Win over eighth ranked Miami tied for highest ranked team Clemson has defeated on the road. • Ranked in top 20 of Final Sagarin Computer Poll. • Schedule ranked in top 20 according to Warren Nolan computer ranking and NCAA. Clemson played four games against top 15 teams, just the second Clemson team to do that (1999). • Ranked as high as 15th in the nation on November 22. • Had six-game winning streak, second longest streak by an ACC team in 2009. • Had five First-team Freshman All-ACC selections on Rival’s team, more than any other school. • Three freshmen, Kyle Parker, made various freshman All-America teams. • Had eight selections on first or second-team All-ACC teams, second most in the ACC. All-ACC selections included Michael Palmer, DeAndre McDaniel, Chris Hairston, Ricky Sapp, and Jacoby Ford. • Eleven players on the 2009 Music City Bowl roster had their degrees, including leading rusher, Thomas Austin. • Had seven returns for touchdowns in 2009, tying school record. Clemson finished in top 25 nationally in punt returns and kickoff returns. • DeAndre McDaniel both named first-team All-American by Football Writers Association. Clemson joined Alabama, Florida and Texas as only schools with at least two Football Writers All-Americans. • C.J. Spiller and Jacoby Ford finished career with 11,671 all-purpose yards, more than any other duo in college football history and over 1,000 yards more than previous record. • Spiller finished sixth in Heisman Trophy balloting, tied for highest finish by a Clemson player.

Notes on Clemson Offense • Highest scoring team in Clemson history with 436 total points. • Scored 54 touchdowns, third most in Clemson history. • Third in school history in yards per play at 5.7. • Seventh team in Clemson history to gain 5000 yards. • Had school record streak four straight games of scoring at least 40 points and record six straight games with at least 34 points. • Third team in Clemson history to gain at least 2300 yards rushing and 2300 yards passing in same year. • Most balanced team in Clemson history in terms of scoring. Had 24 rushing touchdowns and 23 passing. • Just the fourth team in Clemson history with three 500-yard receivers. • Set record for most completions and yards to tight ends in school history (60) and (617) • Michael Palmer set Clemson record for receptions and reception yards by a tight end with 43-507. • Kyle Parker earned second-team Freshman All-America honors and threw for 2526 yards, fifth best for a freshman in ACC history. • Parker tied for most wins by a freshman quarterback in the nation. • Thomas Austin made third-team All-American. Dalton Freeman made first-team freshman All-American.

Notes on Clemson Defense • Led ACC in interceptions with 21, Tigers finished tied for third in the nation. • Ranked in the top 25 in the nation in seven different categories. • Ranked sixth in the nation in pass defense, first in the ACC. • Had 4-0 record against the ACC’s top four passers. • Ranked 10th in the nation in forcing turnovers with 30 • Ranked 13th in the nation in tackles for loss and second in ACC in sacks. • Ranked 20th in nation in total defense, allowing 314 yards per game • Ranked 25th in nation in scoring defense and 21st in pass efficiency defense. • Held a Boston College team that would win eight games to 54 yards total offense, best defensive performance by a Clemson team since 1963. • Held TCU, the nation’s fifth highest scoring team, to just 14 points, their low total of the regular season. • Brandon Maye established school record for caused fumbles in a season with five. • Safety DeAndre McDaniel tied Clemson record for interceptions with eight and ranked fourth in the nation. • McDaniel made five different All-America teams, including first-team Football Writers. • Freshman Rashard Hall was first-team Freshman All-American and ranked 19th in nation in interceptions • Cornerback Crezdon Butler finished career second in school history in interception return yards.

Head Coach Dabo Swinney Notes • Led Clemson to its first ACC Atlantic Division Championship. • Named ACC Coach of the Year by Sporting News • One of 10 Finalists for Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year. • His Nine wins ranked second nationally in most wins among coaches in first full season. • The nine wins were second most in Clemson history and fourth most in ACC history for a first-year head coach. • Defeated Hall of Fame Head Coach Bobby Bowden, the second winningest coach in college football history. • First coach in Clemson history to defeat a top 10 team (Miami) in his first full season. • Tied Clemson record for ACC wins by Tigers coach in his first year as head coach.

C.J. Spiller Notes • Unanimous First-Team All-American (3rd in Clemson History). • Sixth in Voting for Heisman Trophy (tied for highest finish by Clemson player). • Player of the Year in Atlantic Coast Conference by ACC Sports Media Association. • Most Valuable Player of the ACC Championship game when he rushed for championship game record 233 yards. • First Player on losing team to win ACC Championship game MVP honors. • Most Valuable Player of the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl. • National All-Satellite Player of the Year by ESPN’s Todd McShay. • Winner of Banks McFadden Award as top college player in South Carolina. • National Kick Returner of the Year by College Football Performance Awards. • Finalist for Doak Walker Award (top running back). • Offensive Player of the Year in Atlantic Coast Conference by ACC Sports Media Association. • First-team All-American All-Purpose player by Associated Press. • Also first-team All-American by Football Writers Association, Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, College Football News, Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, and CBS Sportsline. • First College Player in History to Make Walter Camp All-American teams at two positions. • First-team All-ACC Kick Returner by ACC Sports Media. • First-team All-ACC RB by Sporting News. • National Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami (FL) by Walter Camp Foundation. • National Offensive Player of the Week vs. Miami (FL) by Rivals.com. • Runner-up for AT&T All-American of the Week vs. Miami (FL). • First player in ACC history with 1000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in same season. • Finished career second in NCAA history and first in ACC history in all-purpose yardage with 7,588. • Averaged 191.4 yards per game in 2009, breaking an ACC record that had stood for 41 years. • First player in college football history with 3,000 yards rushing, 2,000 yards in kickoff returns, 1,000 yards receiving, and 500 in punt return yards. • Ranked third in nation in kickoff returns, fourth in all-purpose running and fifth in touchdowns scored in 2009. • Only player in the nation to score a touchdown in every game this year. • Established over 30 Clemson game, season and career records. • Received standing ovation from Clemson Board of Trustees at graduation ceremonies on Dec. 17, the first Clemson athlete so honored.